Motion-picture apparatus



Aug. 4, 1925.

E. DAVIS MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented 4, 1925.

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EDWARD DAVIS, OF EAST ORANKR E, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM A. HARDY, 0F NEVJ YORK, N. Y.

MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS.

Application filed July 15, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L EDWARD DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Orange, in the county of Essex and State of how Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion Picture Apparatus, of which the following is a description. 7

il y invention relates to motion picture apparatus, and especially to motion picture machines in which the picture record, either negative or positive, as the case may be, is nken or arranged on a curved surface, such a cylindrical surface.

It -i rticularly described, my invention applied t a motion picture projecting aparatus, contemplates the arrangement of the series of positive pictures to be project ed, on the surface of a cylindrical transparent carrier, the rays of light from a suitable SF ce being properly dlrected to be translllltLtd through the picture record, the provision of effective means for rectifying or or msating the distortion of the projected inuigv due to the curvature of the picture record, and eventually the projection of the corrected image through a suitable objective or projecting lens on to the usual distant flat screen, so that all parts of the projected in'" e when properly focussed Will be sharply d clearly defined on the screen. My i ention may also be employed for recording pictures upon a sensitive film arranged upon a cylindrical surface, or upon the sura transparent cylinder With the face or cn'iulsion placed directly thereon and properly sensitized, as Well as for projecting pic tures upon a canvas or other screen from a sim lar positive picture record. lily inven tion further contemplates an intermittently rotating cylindrical picture record, With suiia means for causing the light which the images onto the screen such as a .1, to pass through the said record only during the intervals when the same is at rest.

In accordance with my invention, the films or pictures are preferably disposed in the form f a spiral upon the surface of a cylinder of transparent material of a substantial ly unifi in coefficient of refraction, such cylinder being preferably ren'iovably mounted upon a suitable actuating device having readily manipulated means for positioning Serial No. 396,379.

and removing the cylinder, and for easily and qulclrly returning such cylinder to its initial or other desired position.

ther features of my invention will be more fu lly understood from the following description and from the accompanying dra rings, in which: i j

i is a plan view of a motion picture machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in section, of the cylindrical picture carrier and certain parts of the actuating device therefor;

' Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation showing the gearing for imparting intermittent movement to the cylindrical picture carrier;

Fig. i is a detail view in front elevation, :iartly in section, showing .the cylindrical picture carrier, and a portion of the recti tying and projecting means; I

F 5 is a somewhat enlarged detailed view, partly in elevation and partly 111 sec tion, of the automatic speed regulating derice; and

F 6 is an enlarged view of a suitable form of rectifying lens.

Referring to the drawings, in which my invention is illustrated as embodied in a motion picture projecting machine, a suitable source of light, such as an arc lamp, Welsbach burner, incandescent lamp, or the like, is enclosed in a lamp housing 1 supported by a table 2, as by an adjustable bracket 3. The light from the lamp is suitab y converged by a lens 4 upon a plane mirror 5, and as illustrated is reflected by the mirrorii in a direction at right angles to the axis of said lens. The casing 6, in which the lens 4 is mounted, carries a frusto-conical tube 7 having at its front end a conical right angular extension 8, the mirror 5 being secured at the angle between the tube '5 and its extension 8, and the Whole preferably being sealed to render the same light-proof. For purposes of disassembly,

the tube 7 is secured to the casin 6 as b a b right angles to the plane tangent to the same. The cylinder on which the pictures 11 are preferably spirally arranged, is mounted on a rotatable disc 12 and is preferably of glass, but may be made of celluloid or of non-inflammable celluloid-like or similar substances. A threaded shaft 13 is secured at one end in a standard 14 formed on the table 2 as by means of a nut 15. The disc 12 is provided with a nut segment 16 normally held in engagement with the thread of the shaft 13 by a pin 17 and spring 18. By pulling the pin 17 upwardly against the spring 18 the threaded nut 16 is raised, and the disc 12 may then be manually moved along shaft 13 without being rotated. The disc 12 is provided on its outer periphery with gear-teeth 19 meshing with a pinion 20 fixed on a stud 21, to which a star wheel or gear 22 of a Geneva movement is also fixed. The pin wheel or gear 23 of the Geneva movement which coacts with the star wheel or gear 22 is splined to a shaft 24, the latter being preferably journaled in suitable bearings below the top of the table 2. The gear 20 and the Geneva movement for actuating the same are shown as carried by a casing 25 supported by a sleeve 26 which is rotatably mounted on the cylin drical hub 27 of the disc 12. Upon rotation of the disc 12 and cylinder 10 with consequent horizontal movement thereof along the shaft 13, the casing 25, gear 20, and the Geneva gears 22 and 23, are likewise horizonally moved along the shaft 24, the slot 28 in the table 2 permitting such movement. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the gear or star wheel 22 is provided with radial recesses 30 and intervening concave arc portions 31 and the gear or wheel 23 with a single tooth 32, whereby upon rotation of the gear ,23 by the shaft 24 an intermittent or step-by-step movement is imparted to the gear 22, each movement of the gear 22 being equal to the distance between adjacent radial recesses 30. During the periods when the gear 22 is at rest, the same is locked in position by the engagement of concave arc portions 31 thereof with the periphery of gear 23. The casing 25 is preferably provided with a removable cover 33 screwed or otherwise secured thereon.

For readily positioning the cylinder 10 on the disc 12, I provide a number of angle lugs 34, the heads of which are adapted to enter recesses 35 in the base 36 of the cylinder, and upon turning the latter about the shaft 13 in the direction counter to that in which it is rotated in the operationof the device. the same will be locked securely in position, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 4. In order to insure perfect centralization and rigidity when positioning the cylinder 10 on the carrying disc 12, the latter is provided with an elongated hub 27 adapted to be inserted snugly into the central opening of the base 36 of the cylinder.

A suitable motor 37, such as an electric or spring-wound motor, is provided for driving the moving parts of the apparatus, and is preferably mounted on the under side of the table 2. Suitable speed multiplying gears 33 are connected between the motor 37 and the spline shaft 24, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The speed of the shaft 24 is regulated by a suitable automatic speed controlling device comprising a gear 40 fixed to a shaft 41 and driven from a gear on the shaft 24, and a suitable braking means regulated for predetermined maximum speeds, as indicated in Fig. 5, including a brake disc 43 laterally movable along the shaft 41 by the weighted resilient members 42 connecting the gear 40 and brake disc 43. A brake lever 45, pivotally mounted at 46 on the table 2, is biased by a spring 47 to a position with the finger 48 formed on one end thereof projecting through an opening 49 in the table 2, and it will be apparent that upon downward movement of the finger 48 the mechanism will be arrested. As the gear 40 and disc 43 are rotated, the resilient weighted members 42 tend to fly outwardly under centrifugal action, and when the speed of rotation exceeds the speed determined by the adjustment of the screw 50, the members 42 will bring the disc 43 in contact with the brake lever with sul'licient force to produce the proper retardation.

hfy moving picture machine is provided with the usual projecting lens 51 which is adjustable as by means of the usual rack on the lens casing engaged by a pinion provided with an operating thumb screw 52. lvlounted between the projecting lens 51 and the cylindrical picture record carrier is a shutter mounted on a shaft 54 which is driven at the proper speed from shaft 24. as by means of the bevel gears 55, vertical shaft 56, horizontal shaft 57 and suitable intermediate gearing. The shutter 53 eomprises a vane 58 which serves to momentarily cut off the light while the cylinder 10 is moved to shift any picture from projecting position and the subsequent picture thereon to projecting position, and a narrower vane 58 disposed at an angle of 130 degrees to the vane and which in conjunction with the latter, serves the purpose of securing the desired optical effect upon the retina of the eye of the apparent absence of discontinuity of the pictures, thus preventing visual fatigue. as will be understood. If the vane 58 were omitted, there would be a greater e il'ect of discontinuity. rts indicated above. the light from the lamp or other source is directed through the particular picture and the corresponding portion of the cylindrical carrier 10 which are aligned with the opening of ill the conical tube portion 8 at any instant. Should the eye transmitted through such p rtions or" the car 'ier and pic ur record now he passed directly through the usual objective or projecting lens 51 the picture or innige tl own on the distant flat screen would be distorted due to the cnrvetnre of the picture record, as Will be Well understood, and of course it would be iinpossihle to so adjust the objective 51 as to 5 parts of? the projected image in focus on the screen. The distortion of the proj cted image, if the same were focussed on the screen at its median line, would he greatest at the top and bottom portions thereol; While, it the projected image were :Eocussed on the screen at its up: or and lower edges toe nietl'ie greatest {lief/11011 would he rt (lien. portion thereof. To properly; rectify such distortion cit tne projected image and to enable :All parts f to he sharply liocussed on the employ e lens 59 i tori'n that illustrated being a double p ndricnl lens, mounted With the tw r ions extending; cross-Wise to each other. With the plane sides thereof in cut; end with the convex side of one len portion facing the e)" .dricnl recordcerrier and w h the axis or the letter lens portion and in the 1e horitents n iidr cel lens pormi'nllel to tl at oi oi picture cerrier l0 preterof n specinlljz desi l in-dric :wly' placed nenre to the record oj lindei' than the other e or portion, tins preferable location being; in cated in ll 4:. lVith n lens of? thisto r all portions of the pici tnre hei 0 projected may he brought to proper focus on flat .r ereen,- but single plane-context cylindrical lens rere used the l ght I: in passing through it would he focused to e line but by nsi 6 additional plenwconver: cylindrical lens placed crosswise to the other :is rrescribed, all the light transmitted throia h the picture are bros; it to proper ferns e point. Viith :1 con'ilnnzition lei of this character, the G};- lirv'lricnl surface of the piano-convex cylin' di el. lens POLJ on which extends eliatlha in the seine direction es the record cylinder 10 is {liven a greater I of cnrvemre then the orrc nondinn; oi the plane-coir cylindrical lens portion pieced crosswise theretoi in order cor-ipensete for the curt itnre of? the cylindrical picture carrier 10. 'lhet is, the cylindrical surtnce of the nortion of the coinoonnd which has its 1 U 1 :i ei-zten no; parallel to the cylinder 10 to line; and the cnrvatnre of the cylindrical surface of said cross-Wise lens porton Wlll be such as 'iic P such further i excellent results .rhl'y advantageous f L nnusnul dehnition in the 111 it erte l rpon the co was screen; in cornpensz ng' arrangement being ier edpictures on the CHUVHS (3-1 SC" 111 L OlliDOi *ord cy inder.

ion picture machine is used recordi c urcs on n sensitised .filni or cylinder. psi-ts will be protected by e. ntnhlc or enclosure from outside and such other necessary l t i as will he irnderstood for ohtzining n QlCblll'Q oi" desired characteristics,

The operation oi ni motion picture inehn 'Wlll be nice. from the preceding dewith the following rention of the shaft 1 r,

c ritrolled l the ceni ilntor coniprisingg' the e lever 4 -53, and upon eh i r internjiittent rotnrr t will he iinpzurteo to the disc 12 hy seer; F38 wherein; the

l0 Will he nioved intervals, the disinit, and along a spiral the pitch of the thread ien the proper adjust once inside" the pictures on the cylindrical step-hy-step tance of one p path deter on the sh an inder 10 will he brought consecutively in 'ster with the projecting lens and the oouhle compensating); lens lt will thus he seen thzit the of light "forming t i oi? the pi tnres projected on the images are Where the r, thron gl'i i 1 The proper soeorl oi hotter 53 is ohteined by z suitl cl =e scoring intermed ate the FLKUttQl' end the (Jflfany picture record he: screen the stone in thereof may he repeata e nut segment l6, and cylinder 10, disc 12 Vj either to en'inter- I the extreme leftinitial oosition shown in Fig. 2,

depending on whether it is desired to repeat only a portion of the record or the entire record. it will be apparent that my compei'isating or rectifying means is adjustable simultaneously with. the framing device and independently of the other parts of my machine, thereby affording the advantages of simultaneously compensating for and framing the pictures being projected, and also of securing proper focusing of the pic tures projected from different records and when projecting on screens at different distances from the machine, without disturb ing the adjustment of the compensating or rectifying means.

It will be understood that many changes and i'i'ioditications may be made in the speci'fic embodiment of the invention shown and described herein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Iil aving now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. In a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier of transparent material having a curved surface, means for directing light to be transmitted through said carrier and means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a lens which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the carrier, said lens being in operative relation to the carrier and having a surface curved oppositely to the curved surface of the portion of the carrier with which the lens cooperates.

2. In a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier formed of transparent material and circular in cross-section, means for directing light to be transmitted through the same, means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a lens in operative relation to the carrier and having a cylindrical surface, said lens, with respect to the direction of travel of the light, being disposed beyond the portion of the carrier through which the light is transmitted, the curvature of the cylindrical surface of the lens being opposite to the curvature of that portion of the carrier with which the lens co-operates.

in a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier formed of transparent material and circular in cross-section, means for directing light to be transmitted through the same, means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a lens in operative relation to the carrier and which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion of the carrier through which the light is transmitted, said lens having a cylindrical surface, the curvature of which is opposite to the curvature of that portion of the carrier with which the lens co-operates, the axis of the cylindrical surface of the lens being parallel to the axis of said carrier.

4-. In a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier formed of trans parent material and circular in cross-section, means for directing light to be transmitted through the same, means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a convex cylindrical lens in operative relation to the carrier, and which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion of the carrier through which the light is transmitted, the curvature of the cylindrical surface of the lens being opposite to the curvature of that portion of the carrier with which the lens co-operates.

In a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier formed of transparent material and circular in cross-section, means for directing light to be transmitted through the same, means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a piano-convex cylindrical lens in operative relation to the carrier, and which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion ofthe carrier through which the light is transmitted, the curvature of the cylindrical surface of the lens being opposite to the curvature of that portion of the carrier with which the lens (so-operates.

6. In a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier formed of transparent material and circular in cross-section, means for directing light to be transmitted through the same, means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a convex cylindrical lens in operative relation to the carrier, and which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion of the carrier through which the light is transmitted, the curvature of the cylindrical surface of the lens being opposite to the curvature of that portion of the carrier with which the lens co-operates, the axis of the cylindrical surface of the lens being parallel to the axis of said carrier.

7. In a motion picture machine, the combination of a record carrier of transparent material having a curved surface, means for directing light to be transmitted through said carrier and means for compensating for the distortion of the projected image due to the curvature of the carrier comprising a lens which with respect to the direction of travel of thelight, is disposed beyond the carrier, said lens being in operative relation "o the i rrier nil haying a surface curved riposia y to the curved surface of the porion of the carri r with whi h the lens coa s of the curved surii'aces of in record carrier and the lens being paral- 8. in a motion picture machine, the comhinatiou of a record carrier formed of transi d circular in cross-section,

a li t to be transmitted for cor oensating tion of the projected image due ure of the carrie 1 comprising a r l al lens. the axes of the two portions of the lens extending;

of each other. :ion picture machi e, "'YU- record carrier ft r on n b the distor in ot the projected the curra ire of the carrier a douliile cylindrical lens, the two cylindrical portions of the P y of each other, a the portion of the rrier being curved lens cyliudri a means adapted cries of pictures leans for dilit upon curved portion of said carrier means to project images, means for correcting); distortion of the projected iinay es due to the curmture of said portion of the arising a indrh cal lens operatiyely associated rier means, the axes or t portions of the lens ezr'enning srersly of each OLllGT.

12. The combination of carry a series of pictures, means for directht upon a curved portion of said ca rier means to project images, means for correcting distortion of the projected images due to the cur ature of said portion of the carrier means comprising: a double cylindrical lens operatively associated with said carrier means the axes of the two cylindrical portions of the lens extending transversely means adapted to of each other and the axis of one of the cylindrica surfs of said lens being parallel to the axis at 519 said curred portion of the arr means.

13:3. The coinhn ition of a cylinder adaptof pictures, means for di 5, upon said cylinder to project for correcting;- distortion of 'm .5 due to the curvature of ising a double planoens operati'vely associthe axes of the two the lens extending srersely of each other and the axis of one of the cylindrical surfaces of said lens being par lei to the axis of said cylinder.

l t. i a a otion picture machine, the comhination o a cylinder adapted to carry a series of p ares, means for directing light upon the n cylinder to project images, and means operatively associated with said cylinder for compensating for distortion of the projected image: due to the curvature of the cylinder comprising); a l ns which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion of the cylinde upon which the light is directed, said lens having a cyl curved opposit cylinder indrical surface facing and .y to that portion of said with which the lens cooperates.

a motion picture machine, the c0mmatron of a cyliinler adapted to carry a series of pictures, means for directing light upon the said cylincer to project images, and means operatiyely associated. with said. cylinder for com. \nsatinp, for distortion of the projected images due to the curvature of the cylinder comprising a convex cylindrical ens which with respect to the direction of rayel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion of the cylinder noon which the light is directed said lei. having its convex cylindrical surface and curved oppo sitely to that portion of said cylinder with which the lens CO-OPQl'ltGS.

16. in a motion picture machine, the con hination of a cylinder adapted to carry a of pictures, means for directing light upon the said cylinder to project images, and means operatively associated with said cylinder for compensating for distortion of the projected images due to the curvature of the cylinder comprising a lens which with respect to the direction of travel of the light, is disposed beyond the portion of the cylinder upon which the light is directed, said lens having a cylindrical surface facing and curved oppositely to that portion of said cylinder with which the lens co -operates, the axis of said cylindrical surface being parallelwith the axis of said cylinder.

17, in a motion picture machine, the c0 hination of a cylinder adapted to carry a series of pictures, means for directing light upon the said cylinder to project images,

is directed, said lens having a cylindrical surface the curvature of which is oppo site to that portion of said cylinder with which the lens co-operates.

This specification signed this 13 day of July 1920.

EDWARD DAVIS. 

